Some people think certain prisoners should be made to do unpaid community work instead of being put behind bars. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience

The plights of those who commit crime have always been a burning topic for discussion. Among the many suggestions put forward by experts of criminology and social services, one of them that have the most of the public backing is – imposing laws that allow convicts of crime to undergo a definite period of community and social tasks without any benefits, rather than confining them in captivity. I whole heartedly agree with

this

thought, for the reasons that I shall explain in the following paragraphs. On the macro level, there are a couple of advantages for the nation’s economy.

Firstly

, it allows the government to reduce the state budget allocated for the setting up and functioning of detention

centers

an area that is approximately central within some larger region

centres

.

For instance

, some American provinces that have passed ordinances for mandatory probation of community tasks for minor felony, was able to reduce the state expenditure on imprisonment by a substantial amount.

Secondly

, the skills and time of the convict could be utilized for the welfare of the community, like cleaning roads and volunteering in old age homes, all without having to spend a penny. On the other scenario most of the prisoners in almost every country are only allowed to do menial tasks that are physically demanding, unproductive and often hindering their mental growth. On the micro level, it fosters the virtue of discipline and humanity in the individual. The convict who spends time in undertaking tasks outside a confined environment, devoid of any shackles and constantly interacting with society is not deprived of his freedom and growth as a responsible citizen. One of the major reasons cited by criminal psychologists is that jails often become a breeding centre for like-minded criminals that could turn a less potent one to a bigger offender.

Therefore

on a personal level, engaging in social works could alter the destiny of any convict inside a prison. It could be

therefore

inferred t

hat imprison

Suggestion

the imprisonment

ment of convicts could lead to negative consequences and letting them to engage in unpaid social tasks could benefit them as well as the economy of the nation